Hong Kong
One of the most vertically dramatic cities on earth - skyscrapers above, harbour below, and one of the world's best public transport networks threading through all of it.
Hong Kong is one of the densest, most vertical, and most efficiently organised cities I have been to. The MTR metro is punctual to the minute and covers the entire urbanised area; the Star Ferry still crosses the harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island for a few dollars. The food is extraordinary at every price point, from a dim sum trolley in a Mong Kok teahouse to a rooftop bar in Wan Chai with the skyline behind it.
It also works extremely well as a stopover. Hong Kong International is one of the best airports in the world - clean, fast, and connected to Kowloon by the Airport Express in 24 minutes. A two or three night stop on the way to or from Southeast Asia is one of the most rewarding transit detours I know of, and the city resets you better than an airport hotel ever will.
The Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
Hong Kong's best months are October to December - the typhoon season has passed, temperatures drop from the summer highs to a very comfortable 20-25°C, humidity falls, and the skies clear. January and February are the coolest months (15-18°C) and feel cold to locals who dress accordingly; for Europeans it is mild. Spring (March-May) is warm but hazy - visibility for the harbour views is often poor.
Summer (June-September) is hot (30-33°C), very humid, and typhoon season. Typhoons can shut the city down for 24-48 hours - businesses close, transport stops, and visitors who arrive into a T8 or T10 warning are stuck wherever they are. The risk is real and worth knowing about before booking July-September dates.
October to early December is the consensus best time: clear skies, comfortable walking temperatures, and the city at full energy. The light on Hong Kong Island in November is exceptional.
Monthly temperature
October-December is the sweet spot. Summer (June-September) is hot, humid, and typhoon season. January-February is cool and clear. Spring haze reduces visibility for the harbour views.
Getting there
Select your origin to see the best routing options.
Direct from London in around 12h on three carriers. From Ireland, connect via London or a Gulf hub.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | LHR/MAN - HKG | Direct | ~12h | The home carrier and the principal direct service; the natural choice into its own hub. |
| British Airways | LHR - HKG | Direct | ~12h | Daily nonstop from Heathrow. |
| Virgin Atlantic | LHR - HKG | Direct | ~12h | The third London nonstop. |
| Emirates / Qatar | DUB - DXB/DOH - HKG | 1 stop | 16-18h | The cleanest one-stop from Dublin, via the Gulf. |
Cathay flies the New York and Boston nonstops - among the longest scheduled flights in the world; otherwise one stop via Asia.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | JFK / BOS - HKG | Direct | ~16h | Nonstop from New York and Boston; among the longest flights it operates. |
| Asian carriers | East Coast - NRT/ICN/TPE - HKG | 1 stop | 18-21h | ANA, JAL, Korean and EVA connect via Tokyo, Seoul or Taipei - often the better fare. |
| Gulf carriers | East Coast - DXB/DOH - HKG | 1 stop | 20-23h | Emirates and Qatar via the Gulf, with a strong cabin both legs. |
The shorter trans-Pacific - nonstop from the West Coast on Cathay and United.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | SFO/LAX - HKG | Direct | ~15h | Multiple daily nonstops from California. |
| United | SFO - HKG | Direct | ~15h | Nonstop from San Francisco. |
| EVA Air / Singapore | LAX/SFO - TPE/SIN - HKG | 1 stop | 18-20h | A strong one-stop with a stopover option in Taipei or Singapore. |
An easy one - nonstop from the east coast in around 9h, and a natural break point on the way to Europe.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | SYD/MEL - HKG | Direct | ~9h | Multiple daily nonstops from Sydney and Melbourne. |
| Qantas | SYD/MEL - HKG | Direct | ~9h | Nonstop on the kangaroo-route feeder; good for onward connections to London. |
| Cathay Pacific | PER - HKG | Direct | ~7h 30m | Nonstop from Perth, the shortest hop from Australia. |
Getting around Hong Kong
Hong Kong has one of the best public transport systems in the world. The MTR metro is fast, air-conditioned and covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the airport; the Octopus contactless card works on the MTR, buses, trams, ferries and even some shops - buy one immediately. The Star Ferry between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui is a HKD 2.70 harbour crossing that is genuinely one of the best-value views in any city, and the double-decker "ding ding" trams along the island's north shore are the slow, cheap way to see it at street level.
Tested routes
2024Emirates First Class: the cheapest fare I have found (Bangkok-Hong Kong)Excellent→Planning the logistics?
The facts above are the short version. The full libraries - every carrier and lounge - live one level down under Getting There.